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Beginning Monday, June 21st,
2004 CHN began unveiling 144 Team previews in 144 Days. CHN ranked the
nations top 144 teams, and is unveiling one per day leading up until the
opening day of the 2004-05 Season.
Bookmark the
144 Teams in 144 Days home page, and check back
each day to see which team is previewed next.
#54
Nevada Wolf Pack
WAC
2003-04: 25-9, 13-5, 2nd
2003-04 postseason: NCAA Sweet Sixteen
By
Joel Welser
 Head
coach Trent Johnson moved to Stanford after leading his team to a surprising
sweet sixteen outing. Mark Fox shouldn’t have any problems stepping into
the head role. He served as an associate head coach under Johnson for the
last four seasons. He’ll inherit some problems like the loss of three of
the team’s four leading scorers. The team and the program needs to use the
momentum they gained from last year, even without many of the players who
led them to the Sweet Sixteen.
Who’s Out: Kirk Snyder was the man who led this team. He scored 18.8
points per game before leaving early for the NBA. The 6-6, California
native was a very consistent scorer and the team will have to readjust in
his absence. Point guard Todd Okeson scored 11.2 points and led the team
with 3.9 assists per game. Garry Hill-Thomas did a little of everything
averaging 9.8 points, 3.6 boards and 2.3 assists. Sean Paul played in all
34 games, but managed just 3.4 points per outing. Paul provided a nice big
man option off the bench and did rack up 3.8 rebounds. As if that wasn’t
losing enough, sophomore guard Marcelus Kemp tore an ACL and will be out for
the entire season. The 6-5 shooting guard only averaged 13.4 minutes per
game, but did play in every game, which would have made him the most
experienced returning guard for Mark Fox.
Who’s In: With Jermaine Washington the only returning guard or wing
player that has ever started a game, the new backcourt class will have to
make an impact immediately. Ramon Sessions is a solid passer and should see
a lot of minutes from day one. Lyndale Burleson will fight for some of
those minutes at the point. Burleson can play either guard spot, but is
best fitted at running the point. The 6-2 Seattle product is incredibly
quick and solid on the defensive end. Adding some more much needed depth in
the backcourt is Kevyn Green and redshirt freshman Curry Lynch. The
frontcourt will gain some height and depth to play along side of returning
starters Kevin Pinkney and Nick Fazekas. Mo Charlo spent two years at
Diablo Valley College before heading to Reno. The 6-7, 210-pounder averaged
18.3 points and 7.2 rebounds as a sophomore. Center David Ellis is a little
slender at 7-0 and 200 pounds, but he has athleticism and a decent long
range shot. He’ll need to add some bulk to become a bigger threat. Chad
Bell, a transfer from New Mexico, is another 7-footer joining the squad this
year. Bell sat out last year due to transfer rules and should see some
minutes for Mark Fox’s squad. Bell isn’t a prolific scorer, but is a solid
rebounder and shot blocker
Who to Watch: Nick Fazekas tore it up as a freshman averaging 12.6
points, a team high 7.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. He’s a little bigger, a
little stronger and has a year of experience. Fazekas already is the next
big thing out of Nevada and will have to prove that he can do it again and
be the go to guy for the team. He has a great touch from the outside and
can post up for the turn around jumper. His greatest asset may be on
defense though. He’s a sound shot blocker and seems to never get in foul
trouble.
Projected Conference Rank: The frontcourt alone can carry this team
to 3rd place in the WAC. But the young and inexperienced backcourt will
cause some problems. They have to step up big time and quick to stop the
Wolf Pack from going on a losing streak that they might not be able to come
back from.
Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT
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Email Joel Welser:
jwelser_chn@ameritech.net
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